Instant messaging programs such as Skype, text-messaging, Facebook, email, and MSN messenger, just to name a few, are some of the media which has entered our lives to facilitate communication between people. Our lives get more connected everyday and CMC (Computer-Mediated-Communication) is not something that will be leaving our society any time soon.

What does this mean for the coach-athlete relationship? CMC media brings obvious improvements to coach-athlete communication, as they are able to interact more efficiently, more effectively and more closely than ever before. But it can also bring on challenges, especially in the area of ethics.

Some of the questions that may come up are: Should my athlete and I be friends on Facebook? What do I do if my athlete adds me to MSN? What if I see a picture of my athlete engaging in illegal behavior? These are all situations which might blur the lines of coach-athlete interactions. If your sport organization doesn’t have a policy on coach-athlete interactions, it is recommended that every coach set his or her own personal standards for managing these new methods of communication. One example that the author gives us is; if you reject a Facebook friend request from one player, then you need to reject the friend requests from all your players. Each coach and each situation will be approached differently, but being aware is the first step.

Keeping an open communication platform with your athletes is important, but keeping the lines from becoming blurry is up to you. Ensure to make your standards clear to avoid any confusion and if the situation becomes too difficult to handle on your own, there is help. The most important thing is to guide discussions in a setting that fosters mutual respect and that will allow you to maintain a positive coaching environment.

Reference from the SIRC collection:
Lawrie, K. (2010). Computer-Mediated Communication - A Caution for Coaches. Coaches Plan/Plan du Coach, 17(1), 10-55.